The Late Dato’ Adnan Mohd Tahir Dato’ Adnan

Our Founder

The Late Dato’ Adnan Mohd Tahir Dato’ Adnan founded OrphanCare in 2008 and was its first president.

He was well-known in Kuala Lumpur for championing the disadvantaged and seeking to better the lives of others. Dato’ Adnan was founder and Chairman of Viva Palestina Malaysia, an NGO championing the cause of the Palestinian people and Chairman of Khalifah Institute Development Committee that teaches Islamic principles in schools.

Dato’ Adnan was a special projects manager at Nestle Malaysia. Later, as general manager of MAC Food Services he oversaw manufacturing and distribution to McDonald’s south-east Asian outlets. In 1995 he joined ACPI Engineering Sdn Bhd as general manager where, among other things, he oversaw the construction of Bukit Jalil stadium’s complex steel roof. Dato’ Adnan was an engineer from Nottingham University and had an MBA from IMD Lausanne, Switzerland.

Dato’ Adnan and wife Datin Elya texted friends to gauge interest about adopting orphaned children from Aceh after the 2004 tsunami. The overwhelming response convinced the couple there were good homes in Malaysia for any child who needed one. When stories surfaced about babies being abandoned in unthinkable places like dumpsites, bushes and public toilets Dato’ Adnan sensed a way to tackle the crisis. He set up OrphanCare with a group of friends.

Malaysia’s first baby hatch to support young women dealing with unplanned pregnancies opened in Petaling Jaya in May 2010.

Following Dato’ Adnan’s passing in 2011 OrphanCare evolved into a Foundation championing deinstitutionalisation (DI)– reintegrating children raised in institutions back into the care of parents, extended family and the community at large.